Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-09
NAVAL DEPARTMENT.
Report OF Secretary Whitney for the
Past Year

WAsHIsoToS, d. c., Dec. 3.
The following is an abstract of the report
Of the Secretary Of the Navy:
When the last annual report of the depart
ment was made this country lacked three
manufactures necessary to the construction
and armament of modern war vessel, viz,
that Of steel forgings for the heavier guns,
that Of armor for iron-clad vessels and that
of the secondary batteries machine and rap
fire guns, an essential portion of the ar
mament Now all three manufactures are
in process of construction under contracts
with the department.
Two special boards, the Gun Foundry
Board, reporting in 1884, and the Board on
Fortfcations and other defences reporting
in January, 1886, and two special committees
of Congress, reporting also in 1886. had Their
oughly investigated the problem of how to
bring about the dome stcating of these indus
tries, and had substantially agreed in their
recommendations. But the large public ex-
penditures contemplated, in the neighborhood
of S35 900 900, served to delay congressio
action, and the final adjournment of the last
Congress without any provision for our coast
defences seemed to have postponed indef-
nitely the desired result.
The Navy Department had, in the summe r
of 1856 as an experiment, consolidated in
one advertisement all of its requirements for
armor and gun-steel for ships of war then
authorized, STIMULATING that it should be of
domestic manufacture and giving an average
of two and half years in which to produce
and deliver it. which covered the time neces-
sary for the procurement of plant. A
period of about seven months was allowed
& ,L,,,,, ,,fb 10. n a
an opportunity for full nve stigation by ex-
pected bidders. The department also opened
correspondence upon the subject with the
principal steel manufacturers of the country.
The interest awakened by the discussion and
Investigations already had was stimulated
somewhat by the influence of the Depart
ment and resulted, when the bids were
opened, in contract with the Bethlehem
Iron Company. under which plant for the
production of armor and gun-steel is being
erected at Bethlehem, Pa, second to none in
the world, il is believed. The efforts of the
Department were generously seconded BY the
Naval Appropriations Committees of the two
Houses, the sum of 81 900 900 having been
inserted in the appropriation acts for the pur-
pose indicated.
The ARMoR-CLAps AID MoSIToRs.
ment was authorized to construct two armor-
clad vessels, each of about 5000 tons, and
each to cost. exclusive of armament, not ex-
cceding 81 ,5o0, 900.
As explained in the last annual report of
the Department. it was decided to invite the
submission of plans for these vessels by
naval architects in civil life at home and
abroad. and a prize of SIS 900 was offered
for any accepted design. Plans were re-
ceived from various sources and much in
tcrest was ELECTED. A board of navalexperts
was appointed to consider the same and the
award was unanimously made 10 the Barrow
Shiphuilding Company, of England, for plans
prepared by the eminent naval architect. Mr..
William John One of these vessels will
therefore be built upon the plans of the De-
partment and one upon those of the success
full competitor The report of the board will
be found in the appendix to this report.
CoAsr AND HARBoR DEFENSE APrRoPRIA-
TONS.
Congress at its last session appropriated
the sum of 81 .000, 900 for coast and harbor
defense vessels. This is the only appropria-
ton heretofore made for new navy, the
disposition of which has not as yet been de-
tcrmned by the Department.
lht 'f .NAN Al s'lphtNs
In the last two annual reports of the De-
partment the necessity for a better system of
handling the stores and supplies and for max
ing the purchases of the Department has
been fully explained. During the last year
a new system has been inaugurated. There
will hereafter be accountability for the
property and a responsible head 10 the bust
ness acquisitions for goods are to be made
.L D., he
sponsible for the purchases being honestly
made and his subordinates at the yards and
stations transact the business and keep the
accounts. The reduction in the expense of
handling and caring for the stores, including
clerks, has been over 25 per cent.
WAR VESSELS N CONFUSION.
The North Atlantic Squadron remains I'M
der the command of Rear-Admiral Stephen
d. Luce, and consists at present of the fol-
lowing vessels: Richmond alag ship)l At
lanta, ossipee, Galcna, Yantic, and Dolphin.
The Tennessee was put out of commission at
the nayy-yard New York, January 20. 1887.
and the vessels above mentioned with the ex-
ception of the Galena and Iantic, have joined
the squadron during the past year. The
Richmond, Galena, and Iantic made cruise
to the West Indies last winter, and the en-
tire squadron has cruised along the coas, of
North America as far as the Gulf of St.
Lawrence, one of the ships going up the st.
Lawrence, River to Quebec and Montreal.
In September last the squadron Was ordered
to Philadelphia to participate in the cercmon-
les attending the centennial anniversary of
the adoption of the Constitution of the United
States, after which it assembled at Newport
for feet drills and maneuvers in connection
with the course of instruction at the Naval
War College. The vessels of the sQudron.
with the exception of the Yantic, are still in
that port
The South Atlantic Squadron continues
under the command of Rear-Admiral Daniel
l.. Braine. and is composed of the Lancaster
(flag-ship, Tallapoosa, and Alliance. The
latter vessel joined the squadron in June last,
having sailed from the United States for her
station via the Mediterranean Sea. Suex
Canal, and east coast of Africa, and having
visited en- route the principal ports on the
coasts of South Africa, Madagascar, and
the Comoro Islands. The Lancaster and
TallApoosa have been employed during the
year in the waters of Brazil, Uruguay, and
the Argentine Republic.
Rear-Admiral John Lee Davis remained in
command of the Asiatis Station until No
yember %. 1886, when he WAS relieved by
Real-Admirsl Ralph Chandler. who continues
In command of the United States naval force
on that station. The squadron is now COM